Locomotive-sand-pipe cleaner



Och 14,1930. T. MCGARIGAL 1,778,160

LOCOMOTIVE SAND PIPE CLEANER Filed July 20. 1929' k3 mfaa M Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES" THOMAS MCGARIGAL, F BRUGETOhT, TENNESSEE' 1 Locomo'r vri-snnn-rrrn CLEANER Application filed my 20,

This invention relates to a cleaner for the sand pipes of locomotives, and has for one 'of'itsj objects to provide a novel device of this character through the medium of which air under pressure may be utilized for the purpose of cleaning a sand pipe'when the sand becomes clogged therein during damp or rainy weather.

The invention has for a further object to .10 provide a device of the character stated through the medium'of which air from the mainjairreservoir of the locomotive may be utilized for the purpose of cleaning the sand pipe-and which shall be equipped with a control valve arranged'within the cab of the locomotive. so as to be within convenient reach ofthe'engineer. I

The invention has for a further object to provide a device of the character statedwhich shall be adapted tobe installed in the sand pipe ata point between the ends of thelatter and which when in operationshall create a suction or vacuum in the upper portion of the sand pipe and maintain a blowing action in the lower portion of the pipe. Y

1 The-invention has fora still further object to provide a device; ofthe character stated which, shall comprise but few "parts, which may be readily (and cheaply manufactured and which may be installed in a sand pipe in a short time and with little labor.

y The invention consists in: the construction, combinaiton and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Figure 1 is an .elevational view illustrating theapplication ofthe cleaner to a sand pipe of alocomotive; and Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending vertically and centrally through the cleaner. V

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 designates one ofthe drive wheels, 2 the cab, '3 the sand box, 4; one of the sand pipes, 5 the main air reservoir, and 6 the air control of distributing valve of a locomotive.

The cleaner, which is arranged in the sand pipe 4 abovethe drive wheel 1 comprises a body or casing? which is of substantially 1929, Serial No. 379,827.

globular formation and connected to the upper and lower portions 4* and 4*, respectively, of the sand pipe. A tube 8 extends axially through'the body 7 and communicates with the upper and lower portions of the sand pipe 4. I

The body 7 is provided with upper and lower coupling extensions 9 and 10, respectively, which are internally screw threaded. The coupling extensions 9 and 10 are of angular' formation externally to provide wrench engaging faces 11. The body 7 is provided at its upper side with an inner annular shoulder 12, and it is provided in its lateral side centrally between its upper and lower sides with an air inlet 13. The coupling extension 9 may be directly engaged with the lower' end of the upper sand pipe section 4 or connected thereto by a nipple, not shown.

The tube 8 is of sectional formation. The upper section ES of the tube-8' is provided at its upper .end with an outerannular flange '14 which rests upon the shoulder 12 to support the tube section within the body 7. The flange 14, is maintained in engagement 5 with the shoulder 12 by the lower endvof the upper sand pipe portion 4 or by the nipple when the latter'is used to connect'the body 7 to this sand pipe portion. The tube section8 communicates with the lower end of the upper sand pipe portion 4 and it extends into the body 7 to a point below the air inlet 13. The lower section 8 of the tube ,8 is externally screw threaded for engagement with the coupling section 10, and it extends from a point close to the lower end of the tube section 8 to the upper end of the lower sand pipe portion 4". The tube section 8 is engaged in the upper end. ofthe lower sand pipe portion 4", and it is provided with a wrench engaging rib 15.

-A pipe 16 of small diameter extends from the compressed air control or distributing .valve 6 to'the air inlet 13, and it is provided with a control valve 17 located close to the valve 6 soas to be within'convenient reach of the engineer.

' The tube 8 provides a sand passage through the body 7, and the body provides an air chamber 18 surrounding'the sand passage.

The port 13 provides an air inlet for the air chamber 18, and the annular space 19 between the adjacent ends of the tube sections S 'and 8 provides a port which establishes communication between the air chamber and the sand passage. The inner wall of the upper end of the tube section 8 is flared to provide a constricted outlet-20 for the air'intake port 19 of the tube 8. The throat'20 at its larger end is diametrically greater than, the tube section 8 and it is constricted in a'down ward direction. I

In practice, when the sand pipe t becomes stopped up as the result of the clogging-of the sand therein during damp or ralny weather, the valve 17 is opened to admitair under pressure to'the chamber 18. The air flows from the chamber 18into the lower tube section 8 by way of the port 19, and it flows downwardly throughthis tube section and through the lower sand pipe portion 43?, with the result that a vacuum or suction effect is produced in'the upper portions ofthe sand pipe and sand passage, and a blowing effect is produced in the lower port-ions of the sand passage and sand pipe. It has been demonstrated as the result of the I use of the cleaner on a locomotivethat these vacuum and blowingeffects' clear the sand pipe of all 'stoppage'in a comparatively short time, and that by the use of thecleaner at intervals the full flowing of the sand through the sand pipe will bei'nsured.

While, I have described the principle of the invention together with the structure whichl now considerthe preferred embodiment thereof,itis to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that suchchanges maybe made, when desired, as fall within the'scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: 7

1.A- sand pipe cleaner comprising, in,

low the upper end thereof and' adapted to I direct air under pressure downwardly and axially through the lower portion of the sand pipe, and means located inthe sand plpe above said firstmeans and cooperating therewith to utilize the air passing through saidportion of the sand pipeto create a suc- -t1 on *in ithe upper. portion of the sandpipe. 2; A sand pipe cleaner comprising, in con -binationwith asand-pipe and a source of air under. pressure, a tube arranged inthe sand pipe and provided between its ends with an annular inlet port, a casing surrounding the tube and providing a chamber with whichsaid port-communicates, a pipe extending from said sourcexto the casing, anda valve in the pipe.

- 3. A sand pipe cleaner comprising, in combination with a sand'pipe and a source of air unde'rpressure, atube arranged in the sand pipe and provided between its ends with an annular inlet port having a constricted throat, a casing surrounding the tube and providing an air chamber with which said port communicates, a pipe extending from said source to the casing, and a'valve in said pipe. 7 I v 4. A sand pipe cleaner comprising a cas-l ing-of-substantially globular formation and provided with anair inlet port, and a sectional tube extending diametrically through the casing, the adjacent ends of the tube sec tions being relatively spaced to provide a port establishing communication between the same and the casing.

5. A sand pipe cleaner comprising'a casing provided with an inlet port, a sectional tube extending through the casing, the ad- 9 jacent ends of the tube sections being relatively spaced to provide a port communicating with the casing and the end of one tube section being flared internally. I

6. A sand pipe cleaner comprising acas ing of substantially globular formation and provided with diametrically opposedopenings, the casing being provided between said openings with an inlet port and-at one 'of said openingswith an annular shoulder, a tube section extending into the 'casing through said last opening, and provided with an annular flange contacting with said shoulder, a sectional tube extending into the casing through the other of saidopenings and having its innerend spaced fromthe inner end of said first tube. l i

having a sand passage extending therethrough and an air chamber surrounding said passage, the casing being provided with an air inlet port for said chamber, and'said pas sage being provided between its ends with an annular inlet port communicating with said chamber. v

8.. A sand pipe cleaner comprising a casing having a sand passage extending therethrough and air'chamber surrounding said passage, the casing beingprovided-with an air inlet port for said chamber, and said passage being provided between its ends'with an air inlet port communicating with said chamber and having a downwardly constricted throat. I 4 7 9. A sand pipe cleaner comprising a casing having a sand passage extending therethrough and an air chamber surrounding said passage, the casing'being provided with an air inlet port for said chambenand said passage being provided between" its ends with an annular air inlet portcommunicating with said chamber and having adownwardlyofni stricted throat.

10. sand pipe cleaner comprising a pasing having a sand passageextendingtherethrough and'an airchamber surrounding said passage, the casingb'eing provided with an air inlet port for said chamber, said passage being provided between its ends with an annular inlet port communicating with said chamber and having a downwardly constricted throat, and the diameter of the throat atits widest end being greater than the internal diameter of the passage above the throat.

11. A sand pipe cleaner comprising a tube extending axially through a portion of the sandpipe and provided between its ends with an annular inlet port having a downwardly constricted throat, and means adapted to permit air under pressure to be supplied to the port. a

In testimonywhereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

THOMAS MOGARIGAL. 

